May the mumbling commence!
The spoken word is powerful – the power of DABAR. There is another exhibit of this power in the story of Jephthah, which is recorded in Judges 11. Jephthah was the son of a prostitute. Wow. Doesn’t the Lord choose some real winners in human eyes to be leaders? Jephthah was run off by his half-brothers, who told him that he would have no part in the inheritance.
When the Lord brought the Ammonites upon Israel, they were hard pressed. The elders of Gilead (Jephthah’s hometown) came to him and his small band of followers. They asked Jephthah to lead them to war against the Ammonites. Jephthah, just as we would, wondered why they thought of calling on him. Then, the elders promised him that he would be their head if he won the day.
Note: to this point, there is no mention of the Lord. It is Jephthah that first mentions the Lord in verse 9. Jephthah realizes that, if he was to have a chance at winning the day, then the Lord’s hand must be in it. Then, the elders vowed to the Lord to do as they had said. And Jephthah repeated all these words before the Lord at Gilead. He repeated his call on the Lord for strength. He repeated the words of the elders of Gilead.
Vows were spoken unto God, and they should not be broken. It is a theme of Jephthah’s life. Vows were a double-edged sword for him. The spoken word is powerful. We must be careful how we use our words. Forget the old saying that “sticks and stone may break may bones but words will never hurt me”. Sometimes, words can hurt, crush, and bruise more deeply than many solid blows. And just like blows, words cannot be retracted. Once they are spoken they either build or destroy relationships.
Then, Jephthah verbally sparred with the King of Ammon. He basically said, “Our Lord has given us these lands. Why don’t you be content with what your god has given you? Let the Lord, the Judge and Ruler, decide between us.”
What faith in God is displayed in Jephthah’s words! Where did his faith go when it came time to trust the Lord in battle? Jephthah made an ill-advised rash vow to the Lord before he left for battle. Read it from Judges 11:30-31.
And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering."
The vow was spoken. Now, it could not be retracted. And the Lord did deliver the Ammonites into his hands. I believe the Lord would have delivered the Ammonites into Jephthah’s hand even without this last vow.
Who came out to meet Jephthah? Jephthah’s only child, his daughter, leapt forth from the house. She was dancing with joy because of the success of her father, but her father was in tears. He had made a vow, and he had to follow through.
Did God really want this human sacrifice? I cannot believe that He did. Just as firstborn sons are redeemed with lambs, why couldn’t Jephthah’s daughter also be redeemed? Had Israel drifted so far from God to forget the possibility of redeeming children devoted to the Lord?
It is a doubly sad story. The power of DABAR is underscored. Again, I say, “Be careful how you use your words.” A rash vow brought an end to an innocent human life, and the daughter sadly is given no name. And this daughter could have been redeemed – even if it was at a great monetary cost. But this avenue was either forgotten or ignored.
As a father, I feel for Jephthah. I wonder what things God has in store for my son, Micah. I wonder how to best raise him up so that he will be sensitive to the call of the Lord in his life. Like Samson’s parents, I want to ask the Lord, “How are we to bring up the boy who is to be born (Judges 13:8b)?” I eagerly wait for the day when Micah is born anew of the Spirit of the living God.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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